Shengshan Island, one of the 400+ Shengsi Islands, lies about 100 miles off Shanghai in the East China Sea.

Map by Google

Now a holiday destination, these islands used to be a hive of commercial fishing activity. Over the years, one of the villages on Shengshan Island has been gradually deserted owing to economic realities. Being based on the mainland is far more cost-effective.

Image: The Atlantic

Nature has sprung to its feet and reclaimed the village with its tangles of creepers and ivy.

The result is and extraordinary and rather eerie expression of a village that once was.